Chapter 8: Schemes and Alliances

The Great Forest, Jade Dragon Fall

After Li Jing, Li Yuxong and others left. 

"How long do you want to keep hugging dear husband, we shouldn't get too close before our marriage!"

Li Gang instantly retracted his hands. 

Wang Xueyao narrowed her eyes. "Did you think I would kill them?"

Li Gang looked at her and replied. "No. You won't but I don't want to take risk."

Wang Xueyao mocked. "You really love your family. Are you aware of him?"

Li Gang looked at her deeply.

"Is it about dual Spiritual Imprint?"

Wang Xueyao looked at him and replied. "Yes, he posses a second Spiritual Imprint. Rank 9 Warp Walker."

Li Gang looked at her and smiled.

Wang Xueyao looked at his expression and immediately guessed what he was thinking and poured cold water.

"Dear husband, I only told you this because any person with dual Spiritual Imprint is as good of a genius as a person with Special Ability. They also possess extraordinary intuition against dangerous situations. He should be aware by now that I am very strong."

Li Gang immediately turned serious.

'She is threatening me. She meant she could very well kill me and ally with Li Yuxong instead since he got more potential than me. But this threat should be a warning to not go overboard next time for what I did earlier. She wouldn't ally with someone like Li Yuxong. She could use him as tool for short term. But he is not suitable for a long term plannings. He is too righteous and prideful in nature and wouldn't blindly follow her commands at all.'

Li Gang nodded. "I will bear it in my mind"

Wang Xueyao smiled and came closer. "If you do what I say, I will give you a beautiful gift in our wedding night."

After saying, she disappeared like never existed there.

Li Gang broke into cold sweats. He has realised the horror of Wang Xueyao. Her acting is flawless. She can blend into any character she wished, be it flirtatious, cold and arrogant demeanour, shy little girl, ethereal temperament, innocent face, and so on. He can't even keep up with her changes in styles.

'She is too dangerous. But, if I want a real life experience, her support is necessary. With my talent, I can't go anywhere. I would need her help if I want to become strong.'

Thinking so, he started returning home.

As he was going, someone stopped him on his way.

"She is very dangerous." Li Yuxong said seriously.

Li Gang looked at him indifferently, as if waiting for him to continue.

"Wang Xueyao is very dangerous. She is very strong big brother." Li Yuxong repeated his words.

Li Gang looked at him and said coldly. "You better keep that to yourself. If I heard this spread, I will make sure your Dual Spiritual Imprint become popular throughout the region."

Li Yuxong heart shook. It was his biggest secret.

"How did you know?"

Li Gang looked at him deeply, and said indifferently: "Do you think you can hide it from me? You are too naive if you think you can hide something like Rank 9 Spiritual Imprint!"

Li Yuxong was shocked. "Why? You know Wang Xueyao is dangerous right? You have been very good at judging people. Others may not know, but I know it. I am only doing it for you. I know you might like her, but she really is dangerous."

"You don't have to worry about my affairs. You better cultivate properly. Otherwise, I might surpass you even in Cultivation."

Li Yuxong didn't dare to question his words. He had never seen Li Gang boasting. Whatever he said, he always achieved. 

He still remembers that day, 5 years ago.

Li Minghui was coldly reprimanding Li Gang for his various poison experiments when he found it out.

Li Gang didn't even care about his reprimands, and said coldly.

"You mind your own business, and I will mind my own. Don't try to come in my way, because you are not that capable to stop me."

Li Minghui looked at him deeply and said. "Within 3 years, I would let your pride and arrogance crushed. And, Li Yuxong will be the one to do that."

Li Gang looked at a little kid standing behind his father.

He looked at him with disdain and said: "You better not try anything funny, otherwise I will crush your dream of creating a great Village head."

When Li Yuxong thought of those lines, he clenched his fist. Everyone thought I was a genius, but I realised that day, big brother was even more of a genius. No, he was a monster. With just D grade aptitude, he reached rank 1 Warrior before me. When we fought, I was a bit stronger than him, but his methods were devious. 

Li Yuxong knows, his temperament changed after their fight later on. He no longer possess as much of a confidence as he had earlier. Even other higher ups are now saying I no longer suit for a Village head throne.

'I will defeat you sooner or later. And I will prove them I am worthy of their expectations.'

Li Gang didn't know about Li Yuxong's thoughts at this moment, even if he does, he won't bother about it.

He walked ahead.

As soon as he reached Li Mansion, he directly went to his father's room.

Li Minghui was sitting over a table and taking a look at various scrolls when he suddenly heard a knock.

Hearing the pattern of knock, he knew it was Li Gang. Everyone's knocking style is unique and even an ordinary person can judge one or two.

"Come in"

Li Gang slowly entered the room and bowed respectfully. "Father."

Li Minghui looked at his son and nodded. He liked Li Gang's character and he wished Li Yuxong could learn one or two from him. The only thing he didn't like was his rebellious nature.

He asked: "You are going to the Inheritance?"

Li Gang replied. "Yes"

Li Minghui: "I want you to help the Li family members in doing some chores."

Li Gang looked at him and said. "Can I refuse?"

Li Minghui asked immediately with a frown. "Why?"

Li Gang looked at him and said: "Wang Xueyao is also going. I want to accompany her, she personally invited me yesterday."

Li Minghui frowned. 'This was a bit unexpected. They did say he met with her though and was even intimately hugging her when they found them.'

He can't reject them or they would think Li Gang has no freedom. Wang Jinlong might even cancel the marriage using this excuse. He had already obtained half of the promised Spiritual Mine as dowry.

Li Minghui sighed. "Okay, you can do as you wish. But, take Li Ming and Li Cheng with you."

Li Ming is also a rank 2 Warrior in early stage. Li Cheng is the tutor assigned to Li Ming, and also serve as his protector till he reaches rank 4. Li Cheng is a middle aged man at late stage rank 4. He is already around 90 years old.

In this world, Mortals live for 100 years, and Warrior live for thousands of years!

Beginner Warriors:

rank 1 Warrior: 100-120 years

rank 2 Warrior: 140-160 years

rank 3 Warrior: 180-200 years

Intermediatory Warriors:

rank 4 Warrior: 250-300 years

rank 5 Warrior: 350-400 years

rank 6 Warrior: 450-500 years

Advance Warriors:

rank 7 Warrior: 900-1000 years

rank 8 Warrior: 2000-3000 years

rank 9 Warrior: 5000-10000 years.

This also shows the difficulty of improving in later stages. As we improve the stages, the difficulty increases drastically!

Mountainview Village have been dominating Azure Mountain for over 700 years, but in the last 40-50 years, with the rise of twin stars: Li Minghui and Li Hao, the Tranquil Vale Village reached the level of Mountainview Village. But the accumulation of Li family is far from comparable to Wang family.

Be it Li Hao, Li Minghui or even Song Yunlan, they are all over 100!

Li Cheng is around 90 years old. He is very experienced. With age, people become coward and shrewd.

Li Gang looked at his father and thought. 'He still cares for me. That's to be expected since I am his son. His responsibility towards Village and his firm attitude keep him from showing his affection. This should be same for Li Yuxong. It's a pity I can't accept this favour.'

Li Gang nodded at him, bowed and left.

As soon as he came out, he saw Li Hao coming here.

Li Hao looked at Li Gang and said with a meaningful smile. "I hope you take care of Li Ming on the way."

Li Gang looked at him deeply and said. "Remind Li Ming to suppress his over confidence and take care of his attitude, otherwise he might accidently offend an Intermediatory warrior! Even if I wish, I won't be able to save him then. It is also possible that he eats something poisonous fruits in the forest area."

Li Hao narrowed his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"

Li Gang looked at him innocently: "What do you mean Uncle Hao? I am doing it for Elder brother Ming's sake. You know, Wang family and Li family has been enemy over these years. Suddenly travelling with them might be dangerous!"

Li Hao looked at him coldly, snorted and walked ahead.

Li Gang looked at his back and smiled coldly. 'Don't think I am not aware of why Li Ming is going with me. It must be your idea, old fox. You are not satisfied with my earlier answer, so you are sending Li Cheng to monitor me. Li Ming is just a lustful idiot who thinks about girls all day long, he wouldn't even understand why you put him with us. You must have enticed him with Wang Xueyao's beauty, but this is the most dangerous plan you ever made. And, I don't have any intention to go with your plan.'

Li Gang started walking back to his room to prepare for the upcoming inheritance.

Monarch Inheritance would open within a weak! He had already trained sufficiently. Now, he needs to give his body a rest to consolidate. He can't go in an exhausted state! He can utilise this time to think about his further plans.

At the same time, somewhere in Wang Mansion.

Wang Xueyao was looking at the sky. Her eyes were as dark as abyss.

"Didn't they say that Wanderers are low in intelligence? They also possess Special Ability!" Wang Xueyao murmured in a voice that only she could hear.

"This level of understanding is only possessed by those rank 7s and rank 8s, that too with their high thinking speed. This is also why I didn't revealed my strength, so that I won't be noticed before my strength reaches their level. It is very likely he possessed Special Ability that helps in deduction. If that were true, then it would mean even his terrible acting was a part of his acting! But I don't believe he has reached that stage, after all he is still in his early stage with no real life experience."

Wang Xueyao thought of something.

"Either way, it is better to make him an ally with the marriage, even if I give myself to him, my 'True Self' is unattainable after all I am just a 'temporary' existence! I will also obtain a strong ally without loosing anything, which will be crucial in the upcoming war!"